Effective treatment of advanced-stage childhood lymphoblastic lymphoma without prophylactic cranial irradiation: results of St Jude NHL13 study

Diagnosis and management of lymphoblastic lymphoma in children, adolescents and young adults

Lymphoblastic lymphoma (LBL) is the second most common type of non-Hodgkin Lymphoma (NHL) in children, adolescents, and young adults (CAYA), accounting for 25-35% of all cases. T-lymphoblastic lymphoma (T-LBL) comprises 70-80% of cases, while precursor B-lymphoblastic lymphoma (pB-LBL) makes up the remaining 20-25% of cases. Event-free and overall survival (EFS and OS) for paediatric LBL patients both exceed 80% with current therapies. Treatment regimens, especially in T-LBL with large mediastinal tumours, are complex with significant toxicity and long-term complications. Though prognosis overall is good for T-LBL and pB-LBL with upfront therapy, outcomes for patients with relapsed or refractory (r/r) disease remain dismal. Here, we review new understanding about the pathogenesis and biology of LBL, recent clinical results and future directions for therapy, and remaining obstacles to improve outcomes while reducing toxicity.

SOHO State of the Art Updates and Next Questions | Novel Approaches to Pediatric T-cell ALL and T-Lymphoblastic Lymphoma

While outcomes for children with T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) and T-lymphoblastic lymphoma (T-LL) have improved significantly with contemporary therapy, outcomes for patients with relapsed or refractory (r/r) disease remain dismal. Improved risk stratification and the incorporation of novel therapeutics have the potential to improve outcomes further in T-ALL/T-LL by limiting relapse risk and improving salvage rates for those with r/r disease. In this review we will discuss the challenges and new opportunities for improved risk stratification in T-ALL and T-LL. We will further discuss the recent incorporation of the novel therapeutics nelarabine and bortezomib into front-line therapy for children with T-ALL and T-LL. Finally, we will address new classes of targeted small molecule inhibitors, immunotherapeutics, and chimeric antigen receptor T-cell therapies under investigation in r/r T-ALL and T-LL.

Oncogenetic landscape of T-cell lymphoblastic lymphomas compared to T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia

In the latest 2016 World Health Organization classification of hematological malignancies, T-cell lymphoblastic lymphoma (T-LBL) and lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) are grouped together into one entity called T-cell lymphoblastic leukemia/lymphoma (T-LBLL). However, the question of whether these entities represent one or two diseases remains. Multiple studies on driver alterations in T-ALL have led to a better understanding of the disease while, so far, little data on genetic profiles in T-LBL is available. We sought to define recurrent genetic alterations in T-LBL and provide a comprehensive comparison with T-ALL. Targeted whole-exome next-generation sequencing of 105 genes, multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification, and quantitative PCR allowed comprehensive genotype assessment in 818, consecutive, unselected, newly diagnosed patients (342 T-LBL vs. 476 T-ALL). The median age at diagnosis was similar in T-LBL and T-ALL (17 vs. 15 years old, respectively; p = 0.2). Although we found commonly altered signaling pathways and co-occurring mutations, we identified recurrent dissimilarities in actionable gene alterations in T-LBL as compared to T-ALL. HOX abnormalities (TLX1 and TLX3 overexpression) were more frequent in T-ALL (5% of T-LBL vs 13% of T-ALL had TLX1 overexpression; p = 0.04 and 6% of T-LBL vs 17% of T-ALL had TLX3 overexpression; p = 0.006). The PI3K signaling pathway was significantly more frequently altered in T-LBL as compared to T-ALL (33% vs 19%; p < 0.001), especially through PIK3CA alterations (9% vs 2%; p < 0.001) with PIK3CA^H1047 as the most common hotspot. Similarly, T-LBL genotypes were significantly enriched in alterations in genes coding for the EZH2 epigenetic regulator and in TP53 mutations (respectively, 13% vs 8%; p = 0.016 and 7% vs 2%; p < 0.001). This genetic landscape of T-LBLL identifies differential involvement of recurrent alterations in T-LBL as compared to T-ALL, thus contributing to better understanding and management of this rare disease.

Clinical outcomes and prognostic factors in children with B-cell lymphoblastic lymphoma (LBL) treated according to on modified BFM-90 protocol: Experience from a Tertiary cancer care center in India

Pediatric B-cell lymphoblastic lymphoma (LBL) is a rare entity, and appropriate treatment for pediatric B-cell LBL is not well defined. While intensive ALL type regimens achieve long term survival of 90% across Western co-operative group trials, published data from Asian studies on long term outcomes are scarce. We retrospectively analyzed the data of pediatric B-cell LBL patients treated between January 2010 and December 2017 on a uniform protocol (modified BFM 90). Kaplan-Meier method was used to estimate the survival and Cox regression models to identify prognostic factors. Of 21 patients who received treatment on the modified BFM-90 protocol, 17(81%) were alive in remission, 3(14%) had relapse, and 1(4%) had treatment-related mortality (TRM) while in remission. Two of 3 relapsed patients subsequently expired. With a median follow-up of 66 months (range 6-114), 5-year event free survival (EFS) and overall survival (OS) were 80% (95% CI:71-89%) and 91% (95% CI:85-97%), respectively. While delayed presentation from symptom onset (p=0.030), and partial response at early (D35) interim assessment (p=0.025) had inferior EFS, patients with elevated baseline LDH had a worse OS (p=0.037). Outcomes of pediatric B-cell LBL patients treated on a modified BFM-90 protocol at a single center in India were excellent. In our study, higher disease burden manifested by elevated baseline LDH and delayed presentation (≥3months) and partial interim response portend poorer survival.Supplemental data for this article is available online at https://doi.org/10.1080/08880018.2021.2005725.

Predictive factors for adverse outcome of advanced-stage childhood lymphoblastic lymphoma: a single tertiary center retrospective study in Thailand

Childhood lymphoblastic lymphoma (LL) is a highly aggressive neoplasm which has achieved favorable survival outcomes in many developed countries. However, few studies have reported treatment outcomes of childhood LL in resource-limited counties, nor has a prognostic scoring system been developed. The objectives of this study were to evaluate survival outcomes and identify prognostic factors associated with inferior outcomes of childhood LL in a referral center in March 1985 and April 2017 were retrospectively reviewed. Seventy-five advanced-stage LL patients were included, 47 (62.7%) of whom had stage IV at initial diagnosis. The 5-year DFS and OS rates were 44.6% and 44.7%, respectively. There were 3 significant prognostic factors associated with worse outcomes: presence of B symptoms, low albumin level < 3.5 g/dL and serum LDH level > 500 IU/L. From these three factors, we assigned a score of 1 for each and total scores of 0, 1, 2, and 3 could predict 5-year OS rates of 92.3%, 50.9%, 24.7% and 0%, respectively (p < 0.05). The survival of children in this study was lower than in other studies of advanced-stage childhood LL. We identified 3 adverse prognostic factors and developed a prognostic model for clinical use in advanced-stage childhood LL.

Total Hip Arthroplasty in Adolescents and Young Adults for Management of Advanced Corticosteroid-Induced Osteonecrosis Secondary to Treatment for Hematologic Malignancies

BACKGROUND

Osteonecrosis of the femoral head (ONFH) is a potentially severe toxicity associated with glucocorticoid treatment for pediatric hematologic malignancy. We examined clinical outcomes of THA in adolescents and young adults treated for hematologic malignancies who developed advanced ONFH.

METHODS

In a single-institution cohort, we retrospectively reviewed medical records and imaging for perioperative complications, reoperations, functional assessment at last follow-up, and radiological outcomes. Twenty-seven patients (41 hips) underwent THA (bilateral in 14 patients). There were 11 males. Median (interquartile range [IQR]) age at primary diagnosis was 14.9 years [1.8-18.9]. The median (IQR) age at THA was 19.8 years [14.6-30.3]. Mean (range) post-THA follow-up was 111.5 months (65.4-165.8).

RESULTS

Perioperative complications included one intraoperative calcar fracture that was secured with a cerclage wire and one posterior hip dislocation that occurred 6 days postoperatively, requiring closed reduction. One hip required a revision 21.1 months post-THA due to a fractured ceramic liner. The radiographic review was available for 38 of 41 hips and demonstrated none with loosening, subsidence, or osteolysis; nine developed periacetabular stress shielding. Incidence of stress shielding was associated with increased postoperative pain (P = .0130). There was a significant functional improvement in range of motion (ROM), pain, use of supports, participation in school, work, and sports, and use of pain medication from preoperative to postoperative clinical visits (P < .001).

DISCUSSION

Total hip arthroplasty in adolescents and young adults offers symptomatic and functional improvement in patients with ONFH. We found it to be safe with low perioperative complication rates even in patients undergoing active treatment for malignancy.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Level IV, case series study. See Instructions for authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Burkitt lymphoma in children causing an osteolytic lesion in the mandible: A case report

Imaging is the first step in diagnosing a persistent swelling of the jaw. A lymphoma in the jaw typically manifests as a poorly defined osteolytic lesion. A biopsy is mandatory and will result in definite diagnosis.

Successful Outcomes of Newly Diagnosed T Lymphoblastic Lymphoma: Results From Children's Oncology Group AALL0434

PURPOSE

The Children's Oncology Group (COG) protocol AALL0434 evaluated the safety and efficacy of multi-agent chemotherapy with Capizzi-based methotrexate/pegaspargase (C-MTX) in patients with newly diagnosed pediatric T-cell lymphoblastic lymphoma (T-LL) and gained preliminary data using nelarabine in high-risk patients.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

The trial enrolled 299 patients, age 1-31 years. High-risk (HR) patients had ≥ 1% minimal detectable disease (MDD) in the bone marrow at diagnosis or received prior steroid treatment. Induction failure was defined as failure to achieve a partial response (PR) by the end of the 4-week induction. All patients received the augmented Berlin-Frankfurt-Muenster (ABFM) C-MTX regimen. HR patients were randomly assigned to receive or not receive 6 5-day courses of nelarabine incorporated into ABFM. Patients with induction failure were nonrandomly assigned to ABFM C-MTX plus nelarabine. No patients received prophylactic cranial radiation; however, patients with CNS3 disease (CSF WBC ≥ 5/μL with blasts or cranial nerve palsies, brain/eye involvement, or hypothalamic syndrome) were ineligible.

RESULTS

At end-induction, 98.8% of evaluable participants had at least a PR. The 4-year event-free survival (EFS) and overall survival (OS) were 84.7% ± 2.3% and 89.0% ± 2.0%. The 4-year disease-free survival (DFS) from end-induction was 85.9% ± 2.6%. There was no difference in DFS observed between the HR and standard-risk groups (P = .29) or by treatment regimen (P = .55). Disease stage, tumor response, and MDD at diagnosis did not demonstrate thresholds that resulted in differences in EFS. Nelarabine did not show an advantage for HR patients. CNS relapse occurred in only 4 patients.

CONCLUSION

COG AALL0434 produced excellent outcomes in one of the largest trials ever conducted for patients with newly diagnosed T-LL. The COG ABFM regimen with C-MTX provided excellent EFS and OS without cranial radiation.

T-cell lymphoblastic lymphoma involving the ocular adnexa: report of two cases and review of the current literature

The majority of ocular adnexal lymphomas are B-cell in origin. We report two cases of T-cell lymphoblastic lymphoma (T-LBL) involving the ocular adnexa. One patient presented with a painless pink conjunctival lesion and inferior orbital fullness. The second patient presented with a painless orbital mass. The diagnoses were confirmed by histopathology and immunohistochemistry. Both patients had extensive multifocal lesions during staging. Prompt intensified chemotherapy regimens were initiated. T-LBL is an aggressive disease with poor prognosis. This report emphasizes the importance of timely diagnosis by the ophthalmologist with co-management and treatment with an oncologist.

Lymphoblastic lymphoma in children and adolescents: review of current challenges and future opportunities

Lymphoblastic lymphoma (LBL) is the second most common type of Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma (NHL) in childhood and adolescence, accounting for 25-35% of all cases. The majority, 70-80%, is of T-lymphoblastic origin while 20-25% arise from B lymphoblasts. With current therapy, the event-free and overall survivals for paediatric LBL patients now exceeds 80%. Therapy, especially in T-LBL with large mediastinal tumours, is challenging, with both significant morbidity and late sequela. An additional challenge is the dismal prognosis of patients with refractory or relapsed disease. This review article will focus on the growing knowledge of the pathogenesis and biology of LBL, recent advances and challenges in the therapy of LBL, and ongoing and future efforts and opportunities in optimizing therapy and developing novel targeted treatment approaches.

[Impact of intensified maintenance therapy on the prognosis of children and adolescents with advanced lymphoblastic lymphoma]

目的

探讨增加维持治疗强度对Ⅲ期和Ⅳ期儿童青少年淋巴母细胞淋巴瘤（Lymphoblastic lymphoma, LBL）患者预后的影响。

方法

回顾性分析接受BFM-NHL-90/-95方案治疗且未做纵隔和中枢预防性放疗的Ⅲ期和Ⅳ期儿童青少年LBL患者的治疗结果。研究分组：1998年至2005年收治的患者于维持治疗阶段，在口服巯基嘌呤和甲氨蝶呤的基础上，定期采用“足叶乙甙+阿糖胞苷”和大剂量甲氨蝶呤交替进行化疗，为强化维持治疗组；其余为非强化维持治疗组。

结果

187例LBL患者纳入研究，其中强化维持治疗组52例，非强化维持治疗组135例，两组患者的性别、年龄、免疫分型、临床分期、危险度分层、受累部位的差异均无统计学意义（P值均>0.05）；中位随访48（0.5～221）个月，两组患者的5年无事件生存（EFS）率分别为（76.9±5.8）%和（77.9±4.3）%（χ²＝0.249，P＝0.617），5年总生存（OS）率分别为（78.8±5.7）%和（79.8±4.1）%（χ²＝0.353，P＝0.552），差异均无统计学意义；亚组分析结果显示，两组患者在不同临床分期（Ⅲ/Ⅳ期）、免疫分型（T/B-LBL）和危险分层（中/高危）中的EFS、OS率差异均无统计学意义（P值均>0.05）。维持治疗期间，强化维持治疗组和非强化维持治疗组患者Ⅲ、Ⅳ级骨髓抑制发生率分别为55.8%和18.5%（χ²＝25.363，P<0.05）。

结论

提高维持治疗强度并未提高Ⅲ期和Ⅳ期儿童青少年LBL患者的长期生存且可增加骨髓抑制等治疗相关不良反应。

Osteonecrosis of the Shoulders in Pediatric Patients Treated for Leukemia or Lymphoma: Single-Institutional Experience

BACKGROUND

Osteonecrosis of the hips and knees is an often debilitating adverse event in children treated with glucocorticoids for leukemia and lymphoma but the impact of shoulder involvement has been understudied. Thus, we investigated the severity and functional impairment of shoulder osteonecrosis in a well-characterized population of pediatric patients treated for acute lymphoblastic leukemia or lymphoma.

METHODS

We retrospectively reviewed orthopaedic clinic and physical therapy evaluations to determine range of motion (ROM), pain, and impact of magnetic resonance-defined osteonecrosis (ON) on activities of daily living. Adverse events were classified according to the National Cancer Institute's Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events version 4.03.

RESULTS

We identified 35 patients (22 female), median age at cancer diagnosis 14.2 (range, 4.3 to 19) years; median age at ON diagnosis 16.7 (range, 5.5 to 28) years. Median time to last follow-up from diagnosis of primary malignancy was 6.4 (range, 0 to 12.7) years and from diagnosis of ON was 4.0 (range, 0 to 8.9) years. Twenty-two patients had magnetic resonance evidence of ON; 43 shoulders involved at least 30% of the articular surface of the capital humeral epiphyses.Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events mean scores for initial assessments of 55 shoulders (29 patients) showed moderate negative impact of ON on activity of daily living (1.94), decreased ROM limiting athletic activity (0.98), and mild to moderate levels of pain (1.38). Analysis of this group's most recent assessment showed improvement in pain and ON over time, with an average pain grade of 0.58 indicating no pain to mild pain, and 1.37 for ON grade, indicating asymptomatic to mildly symptomatic impact on activities of daily living. We also found minimal worsening average ROM grades (1.11).

CONCLUSIONS

Shoulder ON is an underappreciated adverse late effect of therapy in children treated for leukemia/lymphoma which can limit quality of life and functionality. In most cases, pain and disability can be improved with treatment.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Level IV-case series.

Lymphoma in Adolescents and Young Adults: Current Perspectives

Lymphomas in adolescents and young adults represent approximately one quarter of all cancers in this age group. Historically, adolescent and young adult cancer patients represent a unique population with diverging issues surrounding psychosocial hardships/barriers, economics, and lack of standardization of therapeutic approaches.Furthermore, the biologic differences within the adolescent and young adult population seen in various lymphoma subtypes likely play a role in overall outcomes for this group. Without an organized approach to clinical and translational research for adolescent and young adult patients within specialized treatment centers, this population may continue to experience inferior results. Here we look at the current perspectives of adolescent and young adult lymphomas with respect to disease biology, clinical characteristics, treatment, and prognosis of this unique lymphoma population.

Outcome and Toxicity Patterns in Children and Adolescents with Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma: A Single Institution Experience

Background

The incidence and biology of non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) vary according to age. Some data suggest that the impact of age in pediatric and adolescent NHL patients depends on the histological subtype. Objectives: We aimed to analyze the impact of age at diagnosis on clinical characteristics and treatment-related toxicity in children and adolescents with NHL.

Methods

Retrospective review of medical records of children and adolescents diagnosed with NHL at the Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, between January 1995 and December 2008.

Results

164 children were diagnosed with NHL during the study period, with a median age at diagnosis of 10 years. With a median follow-up of 6.2 years, 5-year OS in patients aged <15 and 15–18 years was 89± 2% vs 82% ± 6%, respectively (P = 0.30), and 5-year EFS was 84% ± 3% vs. 77% ± 7% (P= 0.37). In Burkitt’s lymphoma (BL) and lymphoblastic lymphoma (LL) there was a trend towards better outcomes in children compared to adolescents, with EFS of 91% ± 4% vs. 75% ± 15%, respectively in BL (P= 0.17), and 82% ± 7% vs. 51.4% ± 2% respectively in LL (P= 0.16). Late effects occurred in 21 patients (12.8%).

Conclusions

Children with NHL aged < 15 years tend to have better survival rates and similar long-term toxicity than adolescents aged 15–18 years.

Results and conclusions of the European Intergroup EURO-LB02 trial in children and adolescents with lymphoblastic lymphoma

In the European Intergroup EURO-LB02 trial, children and adolescents with lymphoblastic lymphoma underwent the non-Hodgkin lymphoma Berlin-Frankfurt-Münster protocol without prophylactic cranial radiotherapy. The primary aims of this trial were to test whether replacing prednisone with dexamethasone during induction increases event-free survival in the subgroups with T-cell lymphoblastic lymphoma and whether therapy duration could be reduced from 24 to 18 months (factorial design, randomizations). These questions could not be answered due to premature closure of the trial. Here we report on the secondary aims of the trial: whether the results of the NHL-BFM90 study could be reproduced and evaluation of disease features and prognostic factors. Three hundred and nineteen patients (66 with precursor B-cell lymphoblastic lymphoma, 233 with T-cell lymphoblastic lymphoma, 12 with mixed phenotype, 8 not classifiable) were enrolled. In induction, 215 patients received prednisone and 104 patients received dexamethasone. The median follow-up was 6.8 years (range, 3.0–10.3). The 5-year event-free survival was 82±2% [12 toxic deaths, 5 secondary malignancies, 43 non-response/relapse (central nervous system n=9; all received prednisone during induction)]. The event-free survival rate was 80±5% for patients with precursor B-cell lymphoblastic lymphoma, 82±3% for those with T-cell lymphoblastic lymphoma, and 100% for patients with a mixed phenotype. During induction, significantly more grade III/IV toxicities were observed in patients receiving dexamethasone, resulting in significant treatment delays. The number of toxic deaths did not differ significantly. The only variable associated with outcome was performance status at diagnosis. The 90% event-free survival rate for patients with T-cell lymphoblastic lymphoma shown in study NHL-BFM90 was not replicated, mainly due to more toxic deaths and central nervous system relapses. Dexamethasone in induction may prevent central nervous system relapse more effectively than prednisone but produces a higher burden of toxicity. (#NCT00275106).

The under reporting of recruitment strategies in research with children with life-threatening illnesses: A systematic review

BACKGROUND

Researchers report difficulties in conducting research with children and young people with life-limiting conditions or life-threatening illnesses and their families. Recruitment is challenged by barriers including ethical, logistical and clinical considerations.

AIM

To explore how children and young people (aged 0-25 years) with life-limiting conditions or life-threatening illnesses and their families were identified, invited and consented to research published in the last 5 years.

DESIGN

Systematic review.

DATA SOURCES

MEDLINE, PsycINFO, Web of Science, Sciences Citation Index and SCOPUS were searched for original English language research published between 2009 and 2014, recruiting children and young people with life-limiting conditions or life-threatening illness and their families.

RESULTS

A total of 215 studies - 152 qualitative, 54 quantitative and 9 mixed methods - were included. Limited recruitment information but a range of strategies and difficulties were provided. The proportion of eligible participants from those screened could not be calculated in 80% of studies. Recruitment rates could not be calculated in 77%. A total of 31% of studies recruited less than 50% of eligible participants. Reasons given for non-invitation included missing clinical or contact data, or clinician judgements of participant unsuitability. Reasons for non-participation included lack of interest and participants' perceptions of potential burdens.

CONCLUSION

All stages of recruitment were under reported. Transparency in reporting of participant identification, invitation and consent is needed to enable researchers to understand research implications, bias risk and to whom results apply. Research is needed to explore why consenting participants decide to take part or not and their experiences of research recruitment.

Non-Hodgkin lymphoma across the pediatric and adolescent and young adult age spectrum

The non-Hodgkin lymphomas (NHLs) occurring in children and adolescents and young adults (AYA) are characterized by various age-related differences in tumor biology and survival. Children generally present with high-grade lymphomas, such as Burkitt lymphoma, diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, lymphoblastic lymphoma, and anaplastic large cell lymphoma, whereas low-grade histologic subtypes, such as follicular lymphoma, occur more frequently with increasing age. Treatment outcome for children with NHL is generally superior to that observed in adults. Factors contributing to this discrepancy include psychosocial factors, patient factors, and differences in tumor biology and therapy. These factors will be reviewed, with particular attention to the biological features of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma and anaplastic large cell lymphoma and corresponding therapeutic challenges. Novel targeting agents have been developed, which have been shown to be active in some patients. There is clearly a need for treatment protocols with eligibility criteria that cover the full span of the pediatric and AYA age range and that incorporate detailed molecular characterization of the tumors.

Results of treatment of lymphoblastic lymphoma at the children cancer hospital Egypt - A single center experience

Introduction Lymphoblastic lymphoma (LBL) and acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) are neoplasms of immature B or T-cell precursors. They are considered as a unique biological entity in the 2008 World Health Organization Classification of Hematologic Neoplasm. Both entities are arbitrarily separated by a cut-off point of 20-25% of blast cells in the bone marrow. Treatment of LBL has evolved over time from conventional high-grade NHL schedules to ALL-derived protocols. The aim of this work is to report the clinical characteristics, overall survival (OS), event free survival (EFS), and common chemotherapy toxicities of lymphoblastic lymphoma (LBL) patients during a 5.5year period. Patients and methods A Retrospective review of patient's charts diagnosed and treated as LBL during the period between July 2007 and end of December 2012 was done. Patients were treated according to St. Jude Children Research Hospital ALL Total Therapy XV protocol, standard risk arm. Results This study included 77 patients. T-cell LBL patients were 67, while 10 were of B-cell origin. The median age at diagnosis was 9years (95% CI: 7-10). The majority were males 54/77. Stage III patients were 51, stage IV 13, stage II 11 and stage I 2 patients. Two patients were excluded from analysis as they died before receiving chemotherapy. Complete remission post induction chemotherapy was seen in 22 patients considered early responders, and partial remission in 55 considered late responders. With a median follow up duration of 47months (95% CI: 38-56), the 4year overall survival and event free survival were 86.45% (95% CI: 73.78-94.09) and 82.18% (95% CI: 69.25-90.61) respectively. Twelve patients died during the study period; 2 early deaths before starting chemotherapy from disease progression, 2 in CR due to chemotherapy related toxicity and 8 from disease progression. All the relapsed patients were T-cell, had advanced disease at presentation (6 with stage III; 2 with stage IV). Two patients (2.6%) had isolated local, BM, and CNS relapse each, while 1 (1.3%) had both local and CNS relapse. Disease recurrence was local in 3 patients (3.9%), and systemic in 5 (6.4%), while it was early in 6 (7.8%), and late in 2 (2.6%) patients. Median time to disease progression was 20months (range 5-39months). All relapsed patients did not survive salvage chemotherapy. The most common chemotherapy toxicities were cerebral venous thrombosis (20%), followed by bone infarcts (10.6%), and avascular necrosis (AVN) of head of femur (9.3%). One patient developed secondary acute myeloid leukemia after 3years of FU with unfavorable cytogenetic abnormalities. Conclusion Results of treatment of LBL on the St Jude's total therapy XV study are comparable to most of the similar reported studies. Outcome of relapsing patients is extremely poor, hence there is a need to identify biologic or clinical prognostic factors including minimal residual tumor to better evaluate chemotherapy response. Steroid induced AVN, and cerebral vascular thrombosis were the main chemotherapeutic adverse events.

Molecular genetics of childhood, adolescent and young adult non-Hodgkin lymphoma

Molecular genetic abnormalities are ubiquitous in non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL), but genetic changes are not yet used to define specific lymphoma subtypes. Certain recurrent molecular genetic abnormalities in NHL underlie molecular pathogenesis and/or are associated with prognosis or represent potential therapeutic targets. Most molecular genetic studies of B- and T-NHL have been performed on adult patient samples, and the relevance of many of these findings for childhood, adolescent and young adult NHL remains to be demonstrated. In this review, we focus on NHL subtypes that are most common in young patients and emphasize features actually studied in younger NHL patients. This approach highlights what is known about NHL genetics in young patients but also points to gaps that remain, which will require cooperative efforts to collect and share biological specimens for genomic and genetic analyses in order to help predict outcomes and guide therapy in the future.

Prognostic Impact of Intensified Maintenance Therapy on Children With Advanced Lymphoblastic Lymphoma: A Report From the Japanese Pediatric Leukemia/Lymphoma Study Group ALB-NHL03 Study

BACKGROUND

Childhood advanced lymphoblastic lymphoma (LBL) has a favorable outcome with an event-free survival (EFS) rate of over 80% in response to treatment strategies for acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). However, no progress has been made in this outcome over the past 10 years.

PROCEDURE

We conducted the first nationwide prospective study of childhood advanced LBL to assess the efficacy and safety of ALL-directed therapy with an intensified maintenance phase. We omitted local radiotherapy including prophylactic cranial radiotherapy except for patients with initial central nervous system disease. The total duration of the treatment was 24 months.

RESULTS

For the 136 patients analyzed in this study, 5-year overall survival (OS) was 82.9% and 5-year EFS was 77.9%. Thirty events were observed and 14 occurred before the initiation of intensified maintenance phase. Of 14 events, nine were observed as mediastinal enlargement. There was no significant difference in outcome when stratified according to gender or by immunophenotype. The 5-year EFS according to clinical stage in patients with T-cell LBL (T-LBL) was 70.6% for stage III and 88.9% for stage IV (P = 0.037).

CONCLUSIONS

Our first nationwide study provided about 80% cure rate with only one case of toxic death in childhood advanced LBL. However, our intensified maintenance therapy could not improve the survival outcome. There was a trend of better EFS in Japanese patients with T-LBL stage IV than T-LBL stage III.

Detection and role of minimal disseminated disease in children with lymphoblastic lymphoma: The AIEOP experience

BACKGROUND

The use of intensive chemotherapy regimens in children with lymphoblastic lymphoma (LBL) has significantly improved outcome, but the salvage rate for these patients is still poor. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prognostic value of minimal disseminated disease (MDD), studied by multiparametric flow cytometry (MFC), in pediatric patients with T- and B-lineage LBL.

PROCEDURE

We examined bone marrow (BM) and peripheral blood (PB) samples from a series of 65 children affected by T- (52) and B-lineage (13) LBL using an MFC method; 10 of them were also analyzed for clonality of T-cell receptor gene rearrangements.

RESULTS

MDD was detected in 49% (32/65) of BM samples, whereas only 21% (14/65) were positive at standard morphological evaluation. Findings from MFC analyses of paired BM and PB samples were highly concordant. We analyzed the prognostic significance of MDD results detected at diagnosis in morphologically negative patients, as almost all relapsed cases (10/11) did not have any morphological involvement of BM at diagnosis. Using an MDD cut-off level of 3% by FCM (75th percentile), 5-year event-free survival (EFS) was 60% (SE ± 22) for patients with MDD >3% LBL cells versus 83% (SE ± 6) for the remaining patients (P = 0.04). No statistically significant difference in EFS was observed between LBL patients considering all the other clinical characteristics.

CONCLUSIONS

Our data demonstrated that MDD studied at diagnosis by MFC could represent a useful prognostic tool in childhood LBL and further application for better stratification is warranted.

Clinical outcome of childhood lymphoblastic lymphoma in Shanghai China 2001-2010

BACKGROUND

This retrospective cohort study analysed the clinical characteristics and outcomes of patients with childhood lymphoblastic lymphoma (LBL) treated in Shanghai, China.

PROCEDURE

From 2001 to 2010, 108 evaluable patients ≤16 years of age who were newly diagnosed with biopsy-proven LBL were treated with one of three treatment protocols: CCCG-99, SCMC-T-NHL-2002, or LBL-CHOF-2006.

RESULTS

Two patients had Stage I disease, 5 had Stage II, 55 had Stage III, and 46 had Stage IV. The immunophenotype was T-cell LBL in 92 patients (85.2%) and precursor B-cell LBL in 16 (14.8%). The abandonment rate was 11.5%. Twenty-five patients (23.2%) suffered from resistant disease, including 1 with isolated central nervous system (CNS) relapse. At a median follow-up of 40.4 months (range, 0-114 months), the 5-year probability of event-free survival (pEFS) was 63.9 ± 4.6% in all patients. The 5-year pEFS for patients with pB-LBL was better than for patients with T-LBL (100% vs. 61.3 ± 5.1%, P = 0.007). Patients who had achieved complete remission on day 33 of induction had significantly better pEFS than those who had not (78.8 ± 4.6% vs. 28.2 ± 9.0%, P = 0.000). Three of 25 patients who experienced resistant disease were alive at the end of the study period.

CONCLUSIONS

The abandonment rate was lower for patients with LBL than for patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Prophylactic cranial radiation can be omitted for patients with LBL even when advanced-stage disease is present, as intensive systemic chemotherapy with intrathecal therapy is sufficient to prevent CNS relapse. The survival of patients with resistant disease was very poor.

Advances in paediatric cancer treatment

Four out of five children diagnosed with cancer can be cured with contemporary cancer therapy. This represents a dramatic improvement since 50 years ago when the cure rate of childhood cancer was <25% in the pre-chemotherapy era. Over the past ten years, while improvement in overall survival (OS) has been marginal, progress in pediatric oncology lies with adopting risk-adapted therapeutic approach. This has been made possible through identifying clinical and biologic prognostic factors with rigorous research and stratifying patients using these risk factors, and subsequently modifying therapy according to risk group assignment. This review provides a perspective for eight distinct pediatric malignancies, in which significant advances in treatment were made in the last decade and are leading to changes in standard of care. This includes four hematologic malignancies [acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), acute myeloid leukemia (AML), non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) and Hodgkin lymphoma (HL)] and four solid tumors [medulloblastoma (MB), low grade glioma (LGG), neuroblastoma (NB) and Ewing sarcoma (ES)]. Together, they comprise 60% of childhood cancer. Improved patient outcome is not limited to better survival, but encompasses reducing both short and long-term treatment-related complications which is as important as cure, given the majority of childhood cancer patients will become long-term survivors. Risk-adapted approach allows treatment intensification in the high-risk cohort while therapy can be de-escalated in the low-risk to minimize toxicity and late sequelae without compromising survival. Advances in medical research technology have also led to a rapid increase in the understanding of the genetics of childhood cancer in the last decade, facilitating identification of molecular targets that can potentially be exploited for therapeutic benefits. As we move into the era of targeted therapeutics, searching for novel agents that target specific genetic lesions becomes a major research focus. We provide an overview of seven novel agents (bevacizumab, bortezomib, vorinostat, sorafenib, tipifarnib, erlotinib and mTOR inhibitors), which have been most frequently pursued in childhood cancers in the last decade, as well as reporting the progress of clinical trials involving these agents.

Lymphoblastic lymphoma in childhood and adolescence

Lymphoblastic lymphoma (LBL) are thought to derive from immature precursor T-cells or B-cells. LBL are the second most common subtype of Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma (NHL) in children and adolescents. LBL are closely related to acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), the most common type of cancer in children. Using ALL-type treatment regimen to treat children with LBL was an important development in the treatment of LBL. During the last decades, several systematic clinical trials contributed to the controlled optimization of treatment. Today event-free survival (EFS) can be achieved for 75-90% of patients. However, acute and long-term toxicity, the lack of prognostic parameters and the poor outcome for patients who suffer from refractory or relapsed LBL remain highly relevant subjects for improvement. To date, the pathogenesis of LBL is poorly understood. Learning more about the biology and pathogenesis of LBL might pave the way for targeted treatment to improve survival especially in relapsed and refractory patients.

Disseminated lymphoblastic lymphoma in children and adolescents: results of the COG A5971 trial: a report from the Children's Oncology Group

The Children's Oncology Group's A5971 trial examined central nervous system (CNS) prophylaxis and early intensification in paediatric patients diagnosed with CNS-negative Stage III and IV lymphoblastic lymphoma. Using a 2 × 2 factorial design, the study randomized patients to Children's Cancer Group (CCG) modified Berlin-Frankfurt-Muenster (BFM) acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) regimen with intensified intrathecal (IT) methotrexate (MTX) (Arm A1) or an adapted non-Hodgkin lymphoma/BFM-95 therapy with high dose MTX in interim maintenance but no IT-MTX in maintenance (Arm B1). Each cohort was randomized ± intensification (cyclophosphamide/anthracycline) (Arms A2/B2). For the 254 randomized patients, there was no difference in 5-year event-free survival (EFS) for the four arms: Arm A1, 80% [95% confidence interval (CI) 67-89%] and Arm A2, 81% (95% CI 69-89%); Arm B1, 80% (95% CI 68-88%) and Arm B2, 84% (95% CI 72-91%). The cumulative incidence of CNS relapse was 1·2%. Age <10 years and institutional imaging response at 2 weeks was associated with improved outcomes (P < 0·001 and P = 0·014 for overall survival). CNS positive patients (n = 12) did poorly [5-year EFS of 63% (95% CI 29-85%)]. For CNS-negative patients, there was no difference in outcome based on CNS prophylaxis (IT-MTX versus HD-MTX) or with intensification.

Results of treatment of advanced-stage lymphoblastic lymphoma at St Jude Children's Research Hospital from 1962 to 2002

BACKGROUND

Reliable prognostic factors have not been established for advanced-stage pediatric lymphoblastic lymphoma (LL). We analyzed treatment outcomes and potential risk factors in children and adolescents with advanced-stage LL treated over a 40-year period.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

From 1962 through 2002, 146 patients (99 boys and 47 girls) with stage III (n = 111) or stage IV (n = 35) LL were treated at St Jude Children's Research Hospital. The five treatment eras were 1962-1975 (no protocol), 1975-1979 (NHL-75), 1979-1984 (Total 10 High), 1985-1992 (Pediatric Oncology Group protocol), and 1992-2002 (NHL13). Age at diagnosis was <10 years in 65 patients and ≥10 years in 81.

RESULTS

Outcomes improved markedly over successive treatment eras. NHL13 produced the highest 5-year event-free survival (EFS) estimate (82.9% ± 6.1% [SE]) compared with only 20.0% ± 8.0% during the earliest era. Treatment era (P < 0.0001) and age at diagnosis (<10 years versus ≥10 years, P = 0.0153) were independent prognostic factors, whereas disease stage, lactate dehydrogenase level, and presence of a pleural effusion were not.

CONCLUSIONS

Treatment era and age were the most important prognostic factors for children with advanced-stage LL. We suggest that a better assessment of early treatment response may help to identify patients with drug-resistant disease who require more intensive therapy.

Children's Oncology Group's 2013 blueprint for research: non-Hodgkin lymphoma

Non-Hodgkin lymphomas account for approximately 7% of cancers diagnosed in patients less than 20 years of age, with approximately 800 cases diagnosed annually at COG institutions. With current therapies, cure rates range from 70% to over 90%, even for children with disseminated disease. However, two major challenges need to be overcome: (i) to optimize upfront treatment to prevent relapse since prognosis for patients with relapsed disease remains poor and (ii) minimize long-term side effects in survivors. Hence, the future initiatives for the treatment of pediatric NHL are to utilize novel targeted therapies to not only improve outcomes but to decrease bystander organ toxicities and late effects.

NK/T-cell lymphomas in children

In children, T and NK-cell lymphomas are uncommon in Western Countries. While there has been significant experience treating T-cell lymphoblastic lymphoma (T-LBL) and anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL), other subtypes are very rarely encountered and there are no standard approaches to their management. There are many challenges in defining optimal therapy for many of these diseases but recent progress in elucidating their biology has led to new molecular insights and identified interesting targets for novel drug discovery. In this review, we discuss these disorders in children, how they are approached therapeutically and what lies on the horizon with respect to novel treatment approaches.

Incidence and prognostic relevance of genetic variations in T-cell lymphoblastic lymphoma in childhood and adolescence

Probability of event-free survival (pEFS) in pediatric T-cell lymphoblastic lymphoma is about 80%, whereas survival in relapsed patients is very poor. No stratification criteria have been established so far. Recently, activating NOTCH1 mutations were reported to be associated with favorable prognosis, and loss of heterozygosity at chromosome 6q (LOH6q) was reported to be associated with increased relapse risk. The current project was intended to evaluate the prognostic effect of these markers. Mutations in hot spots of NOTCH1 and FBXW7 were analyzed in 116 patients. Concerning LOH6q status, 118 patients were investigated, using microsatellite marker analysis, in addition to an earlier reported cohort of 99 available patients. Ninety-two cases were evaluable for both analyses. All patients were treated with T-cell lymphoblastic lymphoma-Berlin-Frankfurt-Münster group (BFM)-type treatment. LOH6q was observed in 12% of patients (25/217) and associated with unfavorable prognosis (pEFS 27% ± 9% vs 86% ± 3%; P < .0001). In 60% (70/116) of the patients, NOTCH1 mutations were detected and associated with favorable prognosis (pEFS 84% ± 5% vs 66% ± 7%; P = .021). Interestingly, NOTCH1 mutations were rarely observed in patients with LOH in 6q16. Both prognostic markers will be used as stratification criteria in coming Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma-BFM trials.

Pediatric T- and NK-cell lymphomas: new biologic insights and treatment strategies

T- and natural killer (NK)-cell lymphomas are challenging childhood neoplasms. These cancers have varying presentations, vast molecular heterogeneity, and several are quite unusual in the West, creating diagnostic challenges. Over 20 distinct T- and NK-cell neoplasms are recognized by the 2008 World Health Organization classification, demonstrating the diversity and potential complexity of these cases. In pediatric populations, selection of optimal therapy poses an additional quandary, as most of these malignancies have not been studied in large randomized clinical trials. Despite their rarity, exciting molecular discoveries are yielding insights into these clinicopathologic entities, improving the accuracy of our diagnoses of these cancers, and expanding our ability to effectively treat them, including the use of new targeted therapies. Here, we summarize this fascinating group of lymphomas, with particular attention to the three most common subtypes: T-lymphoblastic lymphoma, anaplastic large cell lymphoma, and peripheral T-cell lymphoma-not otherwise specified. We highlight recent findings regarding their molecular etiologies, new biologic markers, and cutting-edge therapeutic strategies applied to this intriguing class of neoplasms.

Lessons from the past: opportunities to improve childhood cancer survivor care through outcomes investigations of historical therapeutic approaches for pediatric hematological malignancies

Investigations of long-term outcomes have been instrumental in designing safer and more effective contemporary therapies for pediatric hematological malignancies. Despite the significant therapeutic changes that have occurred over the last five decades, therapy modifications largely represent refinements of treatment protocols using agents and modalities that have been available for more than 30 years. This review summarizes major trends in the evolution of treatment of pediatric hematological malignancies since 1960 to support the relevance of the study of late effects of historical therapeutic approaches to the design and evaluation of contemporary treatment protocols and the follow-up of present-day survivors.

Does serum soluble vascular endothelial growth factor levels have different importance in pediatric acute leukemia and malignant lymphoma patients?

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) seems to play a central role in angiogenesis-lymphangiogenesis in hematological malignancies. There are limited data related to childhood hematologic malignancies. The aim of the study was to evaluate soluble VEGF (sVEGF) levels in children with acute leukemia and malignant lymphoma (ML) at diagnosis and in remission. The levels of serum sVEGF were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in 20 children with acute leukemia, 33 children with different histopathological subtypes of ML, and 20 healthy controls. The levels of sVEGF at diagnosis (range 2 -1040 pg/mL; median 52 pg/mL) was significantly lower than in remission (range 136 -1960 pg/mL; median 630 pg/mL) in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) group (P = .018). The sVEGF levels at diagnosis (range: 2 -640 pg/mL; median 89 pg/mL) was significantly lower compared to remission values (range: 116 -1960 pg/mL; median 136 pg/mL) in patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) (P = .002). In ML group, including Burkitt's lymphoma (BL), T-cell non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL), and Hodgkin's lymphoma (HL), sVEGF levels at diagnosis were higher than remission levels, but there was no statistically significant difference (P >.05). On the other hand, there were significant difference between levels in active disease and control group, ie, BL versus control, T-cell NHL versus control, and HL versus control (P = .008, P = .043, P = .007, respectively). The authors noticed that sVEGF levels showed distinct behavioral pattern in different childhood malignancies at diagnosis and in remission. In acute leukemia and ML patients, VEGF acts through different pathophysiological mechanisms, in both bone marrow (BM) angiogenesis and lymphoid tissue lymphangiogenesis.

Cognitive Sparing during the Administration of Whole Brain Radiotherapy and Prophylactic Cranial Irradiation: Current Concepts and Approaches

Whole brain radiotherapy (WBRT) for the palliation of metastases, or as prophylaxis to prevent intracranial metastases, can be associated with subacute and late decline in memory and other cognitive functions. Moreover, these changes are often increased in both frequency and severity when cranial irradiation is combined with the use of systemic or intrathecal chemotherapy. Approaches to preventing or reducing this toxicity include the use of stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) instead of WBRT; dose reduction for PCI; exclusion of the limbic circuit, hippocampal formation, and/or neural stem cell regions of the brain during radiotherapy; avoidance of intrathecal and/or systemic chemotherapy during radiotherapy; the use of high-dose, systemic chemotherapy in lieu of WBRT. This review discusses these concepts in detail as well as providing both neuroanatomic and radiobiologic background relevant to these issues.

Paediatric lymphoblastic T-cell leukaemia and lymphoma: one or two diseases?

There is ongoing discussion on whether paediatric acute T-cell lymphoblastic leukaemia (T-ALL) and paediatric lymphoblastic T-cell lymphoma (T-LBL) are two distinct entities or whether they represent two variant manifestations of one and the same disease and the distinction is arbitrary. Both show overlapping clinical, morphological and immunophenotypic features. Many clinical trials use the amount of blast infiltration of the bone marrow as the sole criterion to distinguish between T-ALL and T-LBL. The current World Health Organization classification designates both malignancies as T lymphoblastic leukaemia/lymphoma. However, subtle immunophenotypic, molecular and cytogenetic differences suggest that T-ALL and T-LBL might be biologically different in certain aspects. The current review summarizes and discusses the recent advances and understanding of the molecular profile of paediatric T-ALL and T-LBL.